I stopped my bike and paused, one foot on the trail, the other still clipped into its pedal. I stared at the narrow path in front of me. To either side was a steep drop into a valley below. I took a breath, released the brakes, and rolled, letting gravity do the rest.
It was early on Saturday, August 2, and I was about 30 miles in on the Maah Daah Hey, a 100-mile singletrack trail that snakes through the beautiful and remote badlands of western North Dakota.

Two weeks ago I lined up at the start of the annual Maah Daah Hey 100 with more than 100 other mountain bikers. The course, which involved riding the length of the namesake trail to Medora, N.D, is one of the toughest around.

Racers have 18 hours to complete the point-to-point race. Along the way, aid stations every 25 miles provide water, soda and snacks. Racers are allowed one drop-bag filled with gear at each of these stops — a welcome oasis in the remote wilderness.

Rolling up to the starting line I knew that GearJunkie/YogaSlackers team racer Chelsey Magness was the only woman to complete the race before me. To say that I was nervous would be an understatement.

But all those nerves went away when the race director, Nick Ybarra, shot a gun to signal the start of the race.

I kept pace with the racers around me as we formed a line entering the trail. I felt comfortable and confident as I pedaled. The first 50 miles seemed to fly by! I ate and drank on schedule and was feeling great as I rolled into the second checkpoint.

Time was ticking away. I knew I still had a large chuck of the course to complete. I checked my Garmin and timed each remaining mile. But at this point, even the smallest hills seemed like mountains.

I pushed my bike more than I rode it for the last 10 miles. But the finish was in sight!

After 17 hours and 45 minutes (yep, 15 minutes before cutoff) I rolled across the finish line.

My friends who had finished hours before cheered me on. I was tired and filthy, but I had made it!

I was the 5th female to complete the 100-mile course that day, and the 6th ever to do so in this race. And by my calculations, at 25-years-old, I am (unofficially) the youngest woman to ever ride the Maah Daah Hey in a day.

The pain was worth the reward, and completing this remote and wild race, regardless of time, felt huge. If you’re looking to test yourself, the Maah Daah Hey 100 offers a challenge unlike any other.

Amy Oberbroeckling, an Iowa native, joined GearJunkie out of college and brought a passion for endurance sports as well as a flawless record in arm wrestling matches against famous rock climbers. Find her biking, trail running, cross-country skiing, camping, or tipping back a cold IPA.

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